Wagon-scale.



N0. 798,693. PATENTBD SEPT. 5, 1905. B. T. MODONALD, JB. & J. M. MODONALD.

WAGON SCALE. APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 30.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ez/vera Een 'amaba y PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

B. T. MCDONALD, JR. & J. M. MCDONALD.

WAGON SCALE.

APPLICATION :FILED JUNE 30.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

BENJAMIN T. MCDONALD, JR., AND JAMES M. MGDONALD, OF PLEASANT- HILL, MISSOURI.

WAGON-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

To a/ZZ 'L1/71,0771, it Trl/fry core/cern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN T. MODON- ALD, .I r., and JAMES M. MCDONALD, citizens of the United States, residing at Pleasanthill, Cass county, h/Iissouri, have jointly invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Tagen-Scales, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan View of the working parts of our improved wagon-scale, the platform being omitted to more clearly show the construction ofthe said working parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the platform and the working-parts. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the method of hanging the platform from the end frame. Fig'. 4 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is an elevational view, and Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the manner of supporting the cross-lever and the shackle connection between said cross-lever and the rock-arms.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in wagon-scales of that type shown in Letters Patent granted to us February 17, 1903, No. 720,728, and is designed as an improvement upon the invention covered by the patent to Mawson, No. 554,983, dated February 18, 1896.

The objects of the present invention are to simplify and cheapen the cost of construction of wagon-scales, and also to improve generally upon the details of such scales.

In the manufacture of wagon-scales it is, usually the practice for the manufacturer to make the metal parts or fixtures and also such wooden parts of the scale as cannot be conveniently made by the purchaser and ship such parts to the purchaser with full instructions as to how to make other simple wooden parts necessary in the erection of the scale. In our former patent, before referred to, the end. frame is illustrated as a casting, which not only added tothe cost of transportation on account of its weight, but also added to the selling price of the scale. l

It is one of the objects of the present invention to not only reduce the shipping weight of the scale parts furnished by the manufacturer', but to reduce the number of pieces made by the manufacturer, so that the purchaser can, by making' these wooden pieces, save considerable in the purchase price of the scale.

In the drawings the end frame is preferably composed of two joists, such as can be purchased in the open'market, these pieces bcing of common dimensionsgsuch, for instance, as two inches thick by ten inches wide-and of such length as required for the scale-platform, usually about ten feet. These two joists, which are marked 1 and 2 in the drawings, are spaced apart by wooden blocks 3., The side frame-pieces 4 are provided with tenons on their ends to tit in the joists 1 and 2, the frame being secured together in a wellknown manner. The upper timbers of the end frames are cut away to provide seats for the hanger-hooks 5, there being two of such hooks in each end frame.

6 represents the hangers in the form of loops, having knife-edge bearings for engagement with the hooks 5 and concaved seats in their lower connecting-pieces for receiving the bearings on the lug of the rock-shaft. This rock-shaft consists of a casting 7, preferably hollow, which casting is provided at or near each end with lugs 8, which lugs carry removable bearings 9, preferably made of tool-steel and driven into the lugs 8. These bearings are made removable in order that they may be ground to provide the knife-edge bearings, and in the event of wear they may be driven out and reground for well-understood purposes. The bearings 9 cooperate with the concaved seats of the hanger-loops 6. The rock-shafts 7 are also provided with lugs 10, extending diametrically opposite the lugs 8,

n which lugs 1() are provided with removable knife-edge bearing-blocks 11, similar to the bearings 9 just referred to. These bearings 11 cooperate in recessed seats of the hang'erloops 12, which loops are similar in all respects in size and construction to the loops 6 except that they are inverted with respect to the loops 6. The hanger-loops 12 on their knife-edge bearings support hooks 13, which hooks are provided with laterally-extending iianges 14, suitably strengthened by webs 15 and 16, the latter being on the upper face of the flanges and serving' to fitinto a recessin the platform-joists. 17 indicates the platformjoists which are supported by the iianges 14, (on each side of the hook 13,) said joists bcing held in position by the lugs or ribs 16and IOO by a lag-screw 18. 19 indicates the platform, constructed,as usuaLof boards, which are pret'- erably nailed to the joists 17. By referring' to Eig. 1 it will be observed that there are two of these rocker-shafts parallel to the end frames, each of said shafts being suspended at its ends by the hanger-loops and each in turn supporting hanger -loops for carrying the iianged hooks upon which the platform-joists are mounted, there being' four of these tlanged hooks in the working parts of the scale and four joists.

20 indicates rock-arms extending' toward each other from the rocker-shafts, said rockarms being' bolted to the ends of the rockershafts and being provided with a projection .21, titting in a correspondingly-shaped recess in the end of the rocker-shaft to prevent said rock-arms from becoming displaced with respect to the rocker-shafts. Each rock-arm is connected by a shackle connection to the cross-lever of the scale, which cross-lever is fulcrumed in a chair 22 and is connected at its .outer end by a link on the scale-beam, as usual. The shackle connection between the rock-arms and the cross-lever is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Cross-lever 23 carries a knife-bearing 24, preferably made of tool-steel, with its upper edge ground in the form of a bearingpoint. Each rock-arm 2O is provided with an adjustable bearing-point 25, seated in a saddle-block 26, under which passes a loop 27, the upper end of said loop passing' over a saddle-block 28, resting upon the bearing 21 of l the cross-lever.

Te do not claim the construction o'i this shackle in this application, as the same is set Jforth in greater detail and claimed in a companion application serially numbered 214,792) and lilcd ol' even date herewith.

le are aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination ot' the various parts or' our device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new` and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

In a wagon-scale, the combination with the end frames, of rocker-shafts suspended therefrom, a platform suspended from the opposite sides of said rocker-shafts, rockarms bolted to said rocker-shafts and having projections litting in correspondingly-shaped recesses in said rocker-shafts to prevent displacement ot' said rock-arms, a crossslever, and adjustable connections between said cross lever and the ends oi said rock-arm; substantially as described.

1n testimony whereotl we hereunto a'liix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of June-1904i.

BENJAMlN T. MCDONALD, Jia.

JAMES M. MCDONALD. Witnesses:

W. W. MASON,

A. R. 1V jireimrrtr. 

